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The Brain Drips Yellow: An Invocation of Madness
In his debut novel, Burn Moor delivers on his promise to leave his readers' minds twisted…permanently.
Deep within the confines of his sheltered delusion, Bill Butler is a loving father and husband, and a successful corporate executive, but his reality is far different. Bill is estranged from his wife, detached from his daughter, and is a constant target of ridicule at his job – and he is on a straight path to mental breakdown.
The Brain Drips Yellow is one man's descent into madness.
Along his journey he is introduced to a sadistic dwarf, a magician-turned-priest, and a suave demonic entity – but did he evoke this entity or is it another manifestation of a deteriorating mind? The demon leads Bill into a surreal world that he refers to as the "scent world" – a world where he is free to purge himself of his fears and satiate his deepest desires. But as Bill spirals into madness, the lines between reality and fantasy begin to blur.
Burn Moor philosophically shreds through our cultural mores, our religious fanaticisms, and our concepts of identity while bringing us uncomfortably close to the face of mental illness. The Brain Drips Yellow is a novel that will leave you ruminating long after you've read the final page.
Deep within the confines of his sheltered delusion, Bill Butler is a loving father and husband, and a successful corporate executive, but his reality is far different. Bill is estranged from his wife, detached from his daughter, and is a constant target of ridicule at his job – and he is on a straight path to mental breakdown.
The Brain Drips Yellow is one man's descent into madness.
Along his journey he is introduced to a sadistic dwarf, a magician-turned-priest, and a suave demonic entity – but did he evoke this entity or is it another manifestation of a deteriorating mind? The demon leads Bill into a surreal world that he refers to as the "scent world" – a world where he is free to purge himself of his fears and satiate his deepest desires. But as Bill spirals into madness, the lines between reality and fantasy begin to blur.
Burn Moor philosophically shreds through our cultural mores, our religious fanaticisms, and our concepts of identity while bringing us uncomfortably close to the face of mental illness. The Brain Drips Yellow is a novel that will leave you ruminating long after you've read the final page.
350 pages, Paperback
First published September 16, 2021
21 people are currently reading
2720 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 3, 2023
Wow, what an incredible debut novel from Burn Moor. This has all the intimate sadness, shame and head-twisting you would expect from heavyweights such as Murakami, Sartre, Palahniuk. If you like their works then you'll love this.
At times I was almost thrown out of my seat by the personal mannerisms, and character references throughout, that my mind convinced me that this book was peeled directly out of my own life experiences and that this book holds some sort of magic and is different for each reader. My conclusion from those thoughts is that Burn Moor really connected clearly with his audience and gave his story the heart it deserved.
Following a depressed middle aged man whose only joys seem to be either clipping dry skin off his calloused feet or enjoying a cherry soda as he takes a wild surrealistic ride of self discovery, rage against god and and entirely bitter look on the world of corporate business.
I recommend this book both hesitantly and enthusiastically as it is a mood killing fantasy adventure that will leave you both crying or laughing.
If you do read this book, Let me know who your Bill Butler is and if you find a bit of yourself in there
See Y'all in the bathtub!
At times I was almost thrown out of my seat by the personal mannerisms, and character references throughout, that my mind convinced me that this book was peeled directly out of my own life experiences and that this book holds some sort of magic and is different for each reader. My conclusion from those thoughts is that Burn Moor really connected clearly with his audience and gave his story the heart it deserved.
Following a depressed middle aged man whose only joys seem to be either clipping dry skin off his calloused feet or enjoying a cherry soda as he takes a wild surrealistic ride of self discovery, rage against god and and entirely bitter look on the world of corporate business.
I recommend this book both hesitantly and enthusiastically as it is a mood killing fantasy adventure that will leave you both crying or laughing.
If you do read this book, Let me know who your Bill Butler is and if you find a bit of yourself in there
See Y'all in the bathtub!
April 7, 2022
Plays into boring tropes a lot; ''weh, hate my marriage, weh, hate the office job, weh'', then proceeds to contrast this generically pathetic life with generic wacky LSD stuff that plays into equally played out stereotypes.
''Isn't it crazy how there is a nude man, isn't it crazy how there is a vein in a dude's arm?'', this book fails to impress, and every societal parody is without subtlety and wit.
''Isn't it crazy how there is a nude man, isn't it crazy how there is a vein in a dude's arm?'', this book fails to impress, and every societal parody is without subtlety and wit.
September 30, 2021
This is one of the best books I have ever read, and one of the rare few that is a SOLID 5 star.
Moor's poetic narrative pulled the artistic sides of my mind as he detailed this sojourn to the inevitable truth. I believe at some point or another every person can find some relation to Bill Butler's ideals, emotions, and accumulated knowledge.
And...it goes on.
Moor's poetic narrative pulled the artistic sides of my mind as he detailed this sojourn to the inevitable truth. I believe at some point or another every person can find some relation to Bill Butler's ideals, emotions, and accumulated knowledge.
And...it goes on.
September 28, 2022
Very strange. It was hard for me to get into some parts.
April 5, 2022
Some of the most stunning writing I have ever had the honor of reading! I could read a textbook about capillary action or dust mites or something by Burn Moor and it would probably still be the most captivating thing lol
December 10, 2021
CEO Bill Butler is miserable. He has to partake in demeaning work activities for the sake of maintaining his employment. His wife despises him and he has difficulty connecting with his daughter. His life takes a strange turn when he encounters an entity while on a family vacation. This man appears to be human, but as time passes, he shows a different side. He does not bring out the best in Bill, but he causes him to look at life from a different perspective. While that might not be good, at least it is different. After other unusual events take place on his family trip, things continue to get more bizarre when he returns home. His mundane world seems off kilter, and Bill finds himself in very strange situations. Readers will have to decide if something evil and demented is really happening outside of Bill’s twisted brain.
“The Brain Drips Yellow,” is an outstanding horror/fantasy novel. The author Burn Moor is an amazing writer. He brings this story to life with his vivid descriptions using a lot of simile and metaphors. His words are so smooth, I felt like he was gliding me down a path from which I could not escape. I had to keep reading! The dark psychological aspects of the storyline blend perfectly with supernatural horror.
The protagonist plays a common character, with whom many readers will be able to relate, especially if they are leading unhappy, depressed lives for which they feel no control. The supporting characters have their own issues, which makes this even more interesting. Whether it is a boss with a strange fetish, or a tarot card reader, or a dwarf, a shaman, or a demon, they all contribute greatly to the demise of the main character’s mental state.
Moor presents fascinating, twisted ideas, that completely captured my attention. While he presents the story in a fictional manner, there were also a lot of statements made that readers will find thought provoking and will lead to introspection. I find this to be a very unique element of this story. And, while I am reading scenes that I find disturbing, and repulsive, I also find that I am asking myself questions about things that the main character is questioning himself about. I loved this aspect of Moor’s writing. I found myself feeling very unnerved long after the tale ended.
Readers who enjoy horror, dark fantasy and twisted psychological novels will absolutely love, “The Brain Drips Yellow,” by Burn Moor.
“The Brain Drips Yellow,” is an outstanding horror/fantasy novel. The author Burn Moor is an amazing writer. He brings this story to life with his vivid descriptions using a lot of simile and metaphors. His words are so smooth, I felt like he was gliding me down a path from which I could not escape. I had to keep reading! The dark psychological aspects of the storyline blend perfectly with supernatural horror.
The protagonist plays a common character, with whom many readers will be able to relate, especially if they are leading unhappy, depressed lives for which they feel no control. The supporting characters have their own issues, which makes this even more interesting. Whether it is a boss with a strange fetish, or a tarot card reader, or a dwarf, a shaman, or a demon, they all contribute greatly to the demise of the main character’s mental state.
Moor presents fascinating, twisted ideas, that completely captured my attention. While he presents the story in a fictional manner, there were also a lot of statements made that readers will find thought provoking and will lead to introspection. I find this to be a very unique element of this story. And, while I am reading scenes that I find disturbing, and repulsive, I also find that I am asking myself questions about things that the main character is questioning himself about. I loved this aspect of Moor’s writing. I found myself feeling very unnerved long after the tale ended.
Readers who enjoy horror, dark fantasy and twisted psychological novels will absolutely love, “The Brain Drips Yellow,” by Burn Moor.
April 1, 2022
Literary masterpiece! This one will have me thinking for weeks to come...
November 16, 2022
I received this book in exchange for an honest review
What I will say about this book, do not go into this expecting a slasher horror or something to the like. Expect philosophy and a challenge to religion. Something I think that makes this book so good is that there is someone who is having this identity crisis and feeling underwhelmed by life so he begins to experience these events (all I’ll say) and boy does it get crazy. I really enjoyed this book, but one thing I will say, the poetic language can be hard to follow at times and I got lost a few times in big events, but simply discussing things I’ve missed put me back on track and I understood.
I give this book 4/5 :)
Thanks Burn Moor for the book!
What I will say about this book, do not go into this expecting a slasher horror or something to the like. Expect philosophy and a challenge to religion. Something I think that makes this book so good is that there is someone who is having this identity crisis and feeling underwhelmed by life so he begins to experience these events (all I’ll say) and boy does it get crazy. I really enjoyed this book, but one thing I will say, the poetic language can be hard to follow at times and I got lost a few times in big events, but simply discussing things I’ve missed put me back on track and I understood.
I give this book 4/5 :)
Thanks Burn Moor for the book!
May 25, 2025
The title promised an absinthe-soaked study of decadent collapse. The actual story is a dull slog occasionally punctuated by shallow "philosophy" an edgy teen could have come up with (wow, maybe all this suffering means God is actually an asshole!) and unimaginative visions of things like drowning in an ocean and strangling women for no reason. Also, extra points for the "Magical Negro" trope. /s
Recommended instead: The Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse (1927). It just came out in a new translation.
Recommended instead: The Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse (1927). It just came out in a new translation.
July 19, 2023
There is absolutely no way I could do this book justice in my explanation. It was thought provoking, imaginative, powerful and just a really weird read. I’ll admit I wasn’t sure in the beginning because the characters were very unlikable. However, I was quickly drawn into this world and couldn’t look away. I could write an entire book on this book explaining all of the metaphors and hidden meanings. Just read it. I think there’s something in here for everyone. If you need me, I’ll be sitting quietly while I process this. 🤯
November 4, 2021
I finished reading The Brain Drips Yellow by Burn Moor. This book transported me immediately to another time and place, as I envisioned life for Bill and his family. The vivid descriptions of events make you feel that you are right alongside the characters experiencing life with them. I found it hard to put the book down, the suspense and the many twists and turns keep the reader engaged through the entire book. It is so well written, can’t wait to read other books by this author.
May 30, 2023
I am a huge Murakami fan...but after devouring everything Murakami has published I found myself at a loss for those surreal landscapes that Murakami is so known for and I have been searching for a new author to fill that void.
Enter Burn Moor.
All i can say is WOW! Not only is this book very surreal and Murakami-esque, but the writing is absolutely sublime!
A true 5-star novel and I am an instant fan!
Enter Burn Moor.
All i can say is WOW! Not only is this book very surreal and Murakami-esque, but the writing is absolutely sublime!
A true 5-star novel and I am an instant fan!
May 19, 2023
After reading the synopsis, I was excited to start this read. I looked forward to reading it at the end of every day.... but it just wasn't as amazing as all the other reviewers have mentioned. I'm not sure if I'm just not as cool as I thought I was, or the book just fell short for me somehow.
The writing is 6 the story itself was not that great.
The writing is 6 the story itself was not that great.
November 14, 2024
Very impressed with the Author and his ability to make you think and identify with the characters, but his ability to get the reader to engage and visually experience each scene is mind blowing. I would like to know if there will be sequel. Haven't had my mind bent this severely since Kafka. Picked it up because of the amazing cover never imagined it will become and all time favorite.
May 30, 2022
Made it a third of the way through before realizing I just don’t care about the protagonist’s identity crisis. I did like the author’s writing style, though. I probably kept with the book longer than I normally would have because of the poetic language.
May 30, 2023
I picked up this book solely because I was intrigued by the cover. I'm not one to usually select a book by the cover but I am so glad I did. This was some of the most breathtaking prose I have ever read.
November 14, 2024
Recently read Burn Moor's Beyond the Veil The Road Leadeth and had to pick this one up too...i think i can say i found a favorite new author...love the eloquence of his writing style and mind bending surrealism...if you like books by Murakami you will totally enjoy Burn Moor...
November 14, 2024
Burn Moor makes the bold claim to leave our minds permanently bent...and he did not disappoint. i will be thinking about this book very a very long time...some of the best writing i've ever read, and i lean towards the classics and literary fiction...so that is saying a lot...brilliant work!
November 14, 2024
Sweet Jesus! i am not one who typically gets intense visuals from what i read...but this book was a rare exception.
the fact that i was so deeply immersed with such intense visuals is a true testament to the author's writing ability .a true artist in every sense of the word .bravo!
the fact that i was so deeply immersed with such intense visuals is a true testament to the author's writing ability .a true artist in every sense of the word .bravo!
November 14, 2024
Had the pleasure of reading this book in a recent book group. everyone was stunned. this book generated some of the deepest discussions our group has ever experienced. extremely well written. challenged many of our core beliefs. i will be reading this one again for sure.
April 11, 2022
LOVED, loved, LOVED this book!!
June 25, 2022
Spectacular reading. Plot, characters, structure are so far advanced of typical reading material. So deep. You will become a part of this story
February 9, 2023
I have no idea what I just read.
May 7, 2023
This is one of the best books I have EVER had the pleasure to read.
August 28, 2023
One of those books where you finish it and immediately start to reread to make sense of what just happened. This book is going to stick with me for a long time, as a reader and a fledgling writer.
November 14, 2024
As a huge fan of surreal fiction i had high hopes for this book, and it delivered. This book deserves to sit aside some of the greats such as Murakami and Kafka. A truly artful experience
December 12, 2024
Meh.
My brain is not left permanently twisted as promised.
Milquetoast.
My brain is not left permanently twisted as promised.
Milquetoast.
November 24, 2025
Glad to be done with this book! Very strange and at times disgusting story. I never really "got"it.
March 28, 2024
One of the best books I have ever read. I’m always surprised I don’t hear more people talking about this book, this is a solid 5 star read. It’s poetic and harrowing, I felt deeply connected to Bill and his plight. I loved this story and highly recommend it.
August 4, 2022
I often think back on this book and hope to revisit it again as I believe I will like it even more the second time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews